YOGATOPIA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Co - Owner / Yoga Teacher
Claire has been learning and teaching yoga passionately for the past 22 years. It has brought her joy, balance, curiosity and above all kept her sane during the wonderful but often trying years of bringing up 3 little kids with very strong, lovable and often mischievous characters! (now all grown and almost responsible adults!)
Claire's teaching style is influenced by the Ashtanga Vinyasa and Iyengar Yoga Schools although over the years she has adopted her own way of teaching. Her teaching is clear, focused and dynamic and her priority is to ensure that the participants in her class feel at home and welcome in their bodies as they are at the present moment. For this to be the case she lays particular importance on correctly aligning the body (taking all aspects into account: physical, energetic, mental and emotional) using props or modifications of a position wherever appropriate. Only a body without pain finds peace of mind. Claire regularly teaches on retreats both in Switzerland and abroad and as a YACEP (Yoga Alliance Certified Education Provider) and a Yoga Veda education provider (www.yoga-veda.ch) offers immersion days and weekend trainings for teachers.
Claire's main influences on the path have been from Glenn Ceresoli (Senior Iyengar Teacher), Bruno Dietziker (Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga), and more recently Stephen Thomas (Hatha Yoga), Doug Keller (Yoga Therapy) and Dr. Ravi Ravindra (philosophy and spirituality).
Job Titles:
- Co - Owner / Yoga Teacher
Rachel Sundström is an internationally certified experienced Yoga Teacher at the 500 hour level (E-RYT500) and a Yoga Alliance Certified Education Provider (YACEP). Rachel was born in England but grew up on the east coast of South Africa. It was here, as a young child, that she witnessed her first yoga lesson passing by a village hall. Many years later Rachel realized why she was so drawn to this dynamic and balanced form of movement. Her passion for yoga led Rachel to the Sivananda Ashram in London in the late 1990s where she attended her first yoga class. After completing the various levels of foundational yoga training in London Rachel travelled to the Sivananda Vedanta Dhanwantari Ashram in Kerala, India to complete her teachers training in 2007.
Since 2007 Rachel has had the honour and privilege of working with many inspiring yoga teachers: Elena Brower, Kino MacGregor, Tim Feldman, Stephen Thomas, Michael Hamilton, Douglas Keller, Richard Hackenberg, Brian Kest, Max Strom, Katchie Ananda, Elena Brower, Baron Baptiste, Reni Bickel, Cameron & Melayne Shayne and all the wonderful yoga students over the years past and present.
In 2008 Rachel moved from London to Zürich with her family and taught at Yogaflow in Herrliberg from 2009 until December 2013. Rachel completed her Advanced Teachers Training +300 with AirYoga Zürich in January 2014. Rachel is now co-founder/owner of YogaTopia Studio in Herrliberg, a beautiful and tranquil yoga shala on the banks of Lake Zürich.
Rachel's focus is on Hatha Flow and Vinyasa Yoga as well as taking inspiration from, and incorporating elements of the Ashtanga tradition. Classes and private yoga coaching are offered in Herrliberg and the surrounding areas. Rachel also offers Corporate Yoga in central Zürich, SUP Yoga on the Zürichsee and Yoga Retreats in Ibiza. Classes are kept small to provide the necessary adjustments and alignments to students. Workshops and private yoga coaching offer a more tailored development by providing an in-depth knowledge of the yoga practice. Yoga is not just a form of exercise but a way of life and provides a solid set of tools for a healthy and balanced lifestyle.
Yoga became a natural addition to Rachel's life, which also includes a wealth of experience in holistic therapy. Rachel is also a certified Aromatherapist and Reflexologist since 1995 and NLP Coach since 2004. In her spare time Rachel enjoys being creative by designing and making meditation malas (www.malatopia.ch) and offers creative mala workshops at various locations within Switzerland and Europe.